The number of fatalities in the poisoning tragedy that occurred in Istanbul's Fatih district has reached 4.
Modern.az reports that another member of the Böcek family, who had traveled from Germany to Turkey, the head of the family Servet Böcek, passed away in the hospital where he was receiving treatment.
Previously, his wife and two minor children had also lost their lives.
The incident began on November 9, when Servet and Çiğdem Böcek, who had arrived in Istanbul from Germany, along with their two children Kadir Muhammet and Masal, experienced a deterioration in their health at the hotel where they were staying.
The family members were hospitalized on November 12 with suspected food poisoning. Despite all medical interventions, it was not possible to save the children's lives. The mother passed away on November 14.
According to police investigations, the family ate mussels in Ortaköy on November 11, and later had a meal at a restaurant. It was on that very day that all family members began to experience severe nausea and vomiting.
Although they were discharged home after treatment, the worsening of their condition led to their deaths.
During the investigation conducted at the hotel where the family stayed after the incident, two other tourists staying on the same floor were also taken to the hospital with similar symptoms. A third person was placed under observation due to a weak heart rhythm.
As a safety measure, the police completely evacuated the hotel and relocated guests to different hotels.
A large-scale investigation into the poisoning has commenced. Currently, a total of 11 people have been detained. Among them are the hotel owner, the owner of a lokum (sweet) shop, a kokoreç vendor, a mussel seller, a cafe owner, and representatives of the company that disinfected the hotel.
Four of those detained were sent to the Çağlayan courthouse today. Operational measures regarding the other 7 individuals are ongoing at the police department.
The incident has caused widespread resonance in Turkey, and investigations are continuing to determine the exact cause of the poisoning.
